The oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) is a familiar sight around the Dorset coast; it is a resident species with numbers boosted by arrivals from further north for the winter months. The oystercatcher's main diet is molluscs, especially cockles and mussels, but they also eat crabs, lugworms and so on. Tidal waters with stony/muddy flats when exposed at low tide are a preferred feeding location for oystercatcher and they can also be seen at high tide on beaches, rocks and even grassy places near to their feeding areas whilst they wait for the tide to turn.
Being a resident species the oystercatcher it is not always reported by observers who tend to tweet about less common species and so the weekly reports chart only shows that they are, indeed, reported throughout the year. There is no particular seasonal trend although reports are possibly a little lower in summer than the rest of the year. Like many species of birds, they tend to flock together into areas where there is plenty of food and some shelter and Brownsea Island lagoon can be home to hundreds during the harsher times of the year. The numbers are certainly boosted by arrivals from further north and I have seen over 500 together on the shore of Green Island, opposite Arne beach, at high tide when feeding is difficult because the mud flats are covered. They huddle together, all with their backs to the wind and with their heads under their wings. I love the way they ignore the 'no access' signs and just stand their ground!
Given their preferred feeding habitat it is not a surprise to see reports predominantly from Poole Harbour, Christchurch Harbour and the Fleet. Other reports are mainly coastal and are often of birds on the move although some birds nest on remote shingle beaches below the Purbeck cliffs. In winter they can turn up at inland sites too but this is the exception rather than the rule.
A visit to Poole Harbour, especially the eastern seaward end, at any time of year will certainly provide you with oystercatcher for your Dorset list.
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